Anastasia: Music From The Motion Picture (1997 Version) [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One of the more successful attempts by another studio (here Fox) to make a quality animated film on par with Disney was Anastasia. The music by David Newman and songs by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Broadway team that won a Tony for Ragtime) give the movie a sturdy backbone. From the Zhivago-gone-Broadway opening number "A Rumor in St. Petersburg" to the Oscar-nominated get-up-and-sing "Journey to the Past," the CD is filled with bright numbers, including low-key pop versions of several of the songs. The vocal talent is exceptional, especially Liz Callaway (Grizabella in Broadway's Cats) as Anastasia (Meg Ryan supplied the speaking voice). Bernadette Peters and Jim Cummings (doing a mean Christopher Lloyd impersonation as the speaking voice of the movie's heavy, Rasputin) offer solid support, with kudos to Kelsey Grammer as Vlad, the portly sidekick. The album's (and film's) star is "Once Upon a December," simply one of the most beautiful songs ever from an animated film. Using a waltz motif that is heard throughout the film, the song--with sparse lyrics--builds into a sweeping and memorable number. It will have your dancing princesses asking for repeats. The CD's liner notes include complete lyrics. --Doug Thomas

Tracks:

A Rumor In St. Petersburg
Journey To The Past
Once Upon A December
In The Dark Of The Night
Learn To Do It
Learn To Do It (Waltz Suprise)
Paris Holds The Key (To Your Heart)
At The Beginning
Journey To The Past
Once Upon A December
Prologue
Speaking Of Sophie
The Nightmare
Kidnap And Reunion
Reminiscing With Grandma
Finale
Viaje Tiempo Atras (Journey To The Past)

Amazon.com

One of the more successful attempts by another studio (here Fox) to make a quality animated film on par with Disney was Anastasia. The music by David Newman and songs by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Broadway team that won a Tony for Ragtime) give the movie a sturdy backbone. From the Zhivago-gone-Broadway opening number "A Rumor in St. Petersburg" to the Oscar-nominated get-up-and-sing "Journey to the Past," the CD is filled with bright numbers, including low-key pop versions of several of the songs. The vocal talent is exceptional, especially Liz Callaway (Grizabella in Broadway's Cats) as Anastasia (Meg Ryan supplied the speaking voice). Bernadette Peters and Jim Cummings (doing a mean Christopher Lloyd impersonation as the speaking voice of the movie's heavy, Rasputin) offer solid support, with kudos to Kelsey Grammer as Vlad, the portly sidekick. The album's (and film's) star is "Once Upon a December," simply one of the most beautiful songs ever from an animated film. Using a waltz motif that is heard throughout the film, the song--with sparse lyrics--builds into a sweeping and memorable number. It will have your dancing princesses asking for repeats. The CD's liner notes include complete lyrics. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Great Music NOT DISNEY.......2007-05-25

I love this music, but I mainly wanted to make the correction that Anastasia is NOT a Disney film, and this CD is not Disney. That might confuse some people. :) It is still very good, though.

If you love soundtracks..you'll love this.......2007-05-12

This CD has all the sound tracks on the (cartoon) movie Anastasia.. If you're a fan of soundtracks you should get this.. it also has songs from the movie.. lyrics are included

excellent CD...can't wait 2 get it!!!.......2007-05-06

I watched the movie w/ my cousin for the first time in years...and i love the songs (my favs r "once upon a december" and "in the dark of the night"

"in the dark of the night" has an eerie touch with a hard rock/heavy metal sound LOVE IT!!!

But the movie is extremely inaccurate w/ the history of the Romanovs and legend of Anastasia's survival. Don't watch it if you want a movie about history, cause it's not right.

Great soundtrack to a very good film..........2007-01-04

The "Anastasia" soundtrack was a pleasant surprise. I loved the atmosphere of the "set up" songs like track 1, and Rasputin's song, but the standouts are Liz Callaway's songs like "Journey to the Past", which is sang with such feeling. Aaliyah's version of "Journey" knocked it out of the park, mixing some good r&b into it. Liz's "Once Upon A December" is also haunting, and you do wish she'd remember why she sees such visions. And of course "At The Beginning" with Donna Lewis and Richard Marx was a huge radio hit, and also a great song. Definately worth a listen.

Still one of my favorite soundtracks after all these years.......2007-01-03

2007 will mark the 10th "birthday" of the animated film, Anastasia. When I was little, this was one of my favorite animated films. (All the way up in the top 10 with The Lion King) One reason I liked it so much was easily the music.

1. A Rumor in St. Petersburg-
A funny song that played near the beginning of the movie. Not something you'd want to play really loud, but still a funny track.

2. Journey to the Past- Anastasia singing about "home, love, family". Isn't that the main theme of the movie? Lovely, high quality song.

3. Once Upon a December- I LOVE this song. It's beautiful.

4. In The Dark Of The Night- O.o An old creepy man singing about killing an innocent girl? Er... yeah. Like the first track, it's not something you should be blasting on a giant stereo system... unless you want to get some weird looks from innocent passer-bys.

5. Learn To Do It- Cute song from another one of those "random characters burst out into song" moments.

6. Learn To Do It (Waltz Suprise)- The music from that scene were Anya and Dimitri were dancing on the boat from the middle of the movie. (Not the scene at the very end.)

7. Paris Holds The Key (To Your Heart)- Another one of those fun "random characters burst out into song" moments from one of my favorite scenes of the movie.

8. At The Beginning- Possibly the reason most people buying this album are probably buying it for this track alone. It's a sweet pop song, good enough to be played on any pop radio station. It was played during the end credits and really captures the "feel" of the whole movie.

9. Journey To The Past (Aaliyah's Version)- A sort of R&B-ish remake of "Journey To The Past". Aaliyah did a good job, it sounds lovely.

10. Once Upon A December (Deana Carter's Version)- Not as good as Aaliyah's song but I still enjoy it.

Tracks 11-16 are all instrumentals, although I think the vocals from when little Anastasia and her grandmother were singing (very beginning of the movie) are in track 11.

17. Viaje Tiempo Atras (Journey To The Past)- Unnecessary track, it's just "Journey to the Past" in Spanish... but if you know Spanish, then enjoy sitting there and bugging people how you know what the woman is singing and they don't. Still a good track, but like I said, unnecessary.

Well, I hope my review of one of my favorite CDs of all time was informative and helpful.
- Charity

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